Pennsylvania's fall turkey is underway

Oct. 28—Pennsylvania's fall turkey season kicked off Saturday in 19 of Pennsylvania's 22 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs.) Hunters are advised that the three-day Thanksgiving season again will run Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

As a reminder, no single-projectile firearms may be used in the fall turkey seasons. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only.

While fall turkey hunters no longer are required to wear fluorescent orange, the Game Commission highly recommends the use of orange, especially while moving.

Fall turkey hunting

Everyone who purchases a hunting license receives one fall turkey tag, as well as one spring tag. During the fall season any turkey can be harvested, and female turkeys make up over 50% of the fall harvest.

When turkey populations are below goal in a WMU, the fall season structure is reduced to allow more female turkeys to survive to nesting. In 2021, season length in 15 WMUs was shortened, or closed, and the use of centerfire or rimfire rifles was eliminated.

The 2022 statewide fall harvest (7,600 turkeys) was 12% greater than 2021 (6,800 turkeys). Statewide fall hunter participation (70,500 hunters) was 14% less in 2022 than in 2021 (81,500 hunters). Fall hunter success of 10.8% was 29% greater than the 8.4% in 2021.

Since 2012 there have been one or fewer turkey-hunting related shooting incidents each year, and 2022 marked the sixth year with no incidents. The other years with no incidents were 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Season outlook

Turkey reproduction in 2023, as measured by the number of poults observed per all hens observed, was lower than in 2021 and 2022. But it was greater this year than in 2019 and 2020 across many WMUs.

"Although fall flock sizes may be smaller this year, there may be more flocks due to the above-average reproduction the previous two years" said Game Commission wild turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena. "And expect to find flocks concentrated on available food sources, such as areas with acorn production or agricultural areas."

Casalena also encourages hunters to cover a lot of ground in areas where acorn or beechnut production is abundant because flocks are not constrained by limited food. Where food is abundant, determining turkey movement patterns around that food will improve hunting success.

Harvests and reporting

Successful fall turkey hunters must tag their birds according to instructions provided on the printed harvest tags supplied with their licenses, then report harvests.

Mentored hunters under age 7 may receive, by transfer, a fall turkey tag supplied by their mentor.

The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the turkey is moved, and the tag must be securely attached to a leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting.

Within 10 days of harvest, turkey hunters must report harvests to the Game Commission, either by going online to the Game Commission's website, www.pgc.pa.gov, calling toll-free or mailing in a prepaid post card.

Hunters reporting their turkey harvests over the telephone can call 1-800-838-4431 and follow the prompts. Hunters will need to have their license and their copy of the harvest tag in front of them when they make the call. Hunters should record the supplied confirmation number for the turkey reported.

All hunters reporting harvests are asked to identify the WMU, county and township where the bird was taken as well as other information.

Additionally, hunters may harvest a turkey that has been leg-banded or has a transmitter for research purposes, and if so, they should follow the instructions on the band or the transmitter. Last winter the Game Commission leg-banded more than 900 turkeys, including placing backpack style transmitters on more than 260, in a continuing effort to track turkey populations.

Handling harvested birds

While wild turkeys are highly susceptible to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), their behavior and habitat use place them at less risk of contracting the disease compared to waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and avian scavengers.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses can be carried by wild birds and have been found across the Pennsylvania landscape. To protect themselves and to reduce the risk of spreading this extremely contagious disease to other birds, hunters are advised to practice the following precautions:

—Have dedicated footwear, clothing, and tools that are only used for handling or dressing harvested wild birds.

—Do not handle or harvest wild birds that appear sick or are found dead.

—Wear gloves when handling or dressing harvested wild birds.

—Do not eat, drink, or smoke when handling or dressing harvested wild birds.

—Dress harvested wild birds in the field.

—Double bag any offal and feathers that will be removed from the field.

—Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after handling or dressing harvested wild birds.

—Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water after using them, then disinfect with a 10% household bleach solution. Allow to air dry or rinse after 10 minutes of contact time.

—Change footwear and clothing before coming in contact with any domestic poultry or pet birds.

While influenza viruses can infect humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that currently in the United States "viruses circulating in birds are believed to pose a low risk to the general public".

Any sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.

Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD or online using the Wildlife Health Survey tool at www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS.

Deer on the move; crossing roads more

With deer becoming increasingly active, and daylight-saving time soon to put more vehicles on the road during the hours when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.

Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the "rut." Around this time, many yearling bucks disperse from the areas in which they were born and travel, sometimes several dozen miles, to find new ranges. Meanwhile, adult bucks more often are cruising their home ranges in search of does, and they sometimes chase the does they encounter.

When daylight-saving time ends Nov. 5, there also will be increased vehicular traffic between dusk and dawn — the peak hours for deer activity.

"While the peak of the whitetail rut is still a few weeks off, deer already are spending more time on the move and are bound to be crossing roads more often," said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. "While motorists always should remain alert while driving, it's especially important now in the coming weeks to be on the lookout for whitetails."

Data from around the country indicates Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest risks of a vehicle collision with a deer or other large animal. A recent report shows Pennsylvania led the country in animal-collision insurance claims in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania drivers, according to the report, have a 1-in-59 chance of a vehicular accident involving a big game animal — one of the highest rates nationwide.

Drivers can reduce their chances of collisions with deer by staying alert and better understanding deer behavior. Just paying close attention while driving on stretches marked with "Deer Crossing" signs can make a difference.

Deer often travel in groups and walk single file. So even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of a driver, it doesn't mean the threat is over. Another could be right behind it.

A driver who hits a deer with a vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. If the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they can call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down.

A resident must call within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer. A passing Pennsylvania motorist also may claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle hit it doesn't want it.

If a deer is struck by a vehicle, but not killed, drivers are urged to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on. However, if a deer does not move on, or poses a public safety risk, drivers are encouraged to report the incident to the Game Commission or another law-enforcement agency. If the deer must be put down, the Game Commission will direct the proper person to do so.

To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.

General elk season opens on Oct. 20

This year, over 57,000 people applied for the chance to hunt Pennsylvania elk.

And the state's biggest elk season is about to get underway.

The general elk season opens Monday, Oct. 30, and runs six days through Saturday, Nov. 4.

While Pennsylvania now has three separate seasons for elk — a two-week archery season in September, the general season and a late season that begins Dec. 30 — the general season is tops in participation, with half of available elk licenses used in the general season.

This year, 72 of the 144 Pennsylvania elk licenses are for the general season. Of those, 30 hunters will be hunting antlered elk, or bulls, and 42 will be hunting antlerless elk, or cows.

Elk licenses for the general season have been allocated in 12 Elk Hunt Zones, geographic elk-management units dispersed throughout the north-central Pennsylvania elk range. Maps of the zones can be found on the elk page at www.pgc.pa.gov.

Many other hunting seasons, including archery deer and bear, and most small game and turkey seasons, occur simultaneous to the general elk season.

"Every elk hunter that comes through the check station is elated, and I sincerely enjoy sharing in their excitement and try to keep the check-station experience quick, easy and enjoyable," Game Commission elk biologist Jeremy Banfield said. "I encourage hunters and visitors to ask questions and witness firsthand an important part of how the Game Commission works to manage elk," he added.

During 2022-23 hunters harvested 131 elk (55 bulls, 76 cows) across three seasons, with 11 bulls meeting the minimum score for inclusion in the state records. A new No. 1 bull was recorded in the typical firearms category with a score of 407-4/8 taken last year, and a new No. 1 bull in the non-typical archery category scoring 445-2/8 harvested last year is the second largest bull ever taken in Pennsylvania.

During the 2023 archery season held Sept. 16-30, 22 elk were harvested, including 17 bulls and five cows.

PFBC encourages fishing & boating safety during cold winter months

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting by highlighting the many fall and winter fishing and boating opportunities available across the Commonwealth and encouraged everyone to be safe while enjoying the water.

In his report to the Board, Executive Director Tim Schaeffer reminded anglers and boaters that, especially during the early portion of the cold weather months, when many people are still active on the water, conditions remain favorable for popular gamefish species across Pennsylvania, including bass, Walleye, catfish, wild and stocked trout, and steelhead that are beginning their annual run on the Lake Erie tributaries.

Schaeffer asked anglers, boaters, and hunters to keep safety in mind and to always wear a life jacket while boating, ice fishing, and waterfowl hunting. From November 1 through April 30, boaters aboard most small boats, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are required to wear a life jacket.

"Pennsylvania is fortunate to have year-round fishing and boating activities, and because of those constant opportunities, anglers and boaters need to be prepared for every season," added Schaeffer. "Wearing a life jacket is the number one thing we can all do to stay safe on and around the water this time of year. Falling into cold water can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly, but wearing a life jacket will keep your head above water until help arrives.

So, enjoy every moment out there on the water or ice this upcoming season — just remember that a few safety steps before and during each trip will ensure that you'll be around to make more great memories for years to come."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle